The first transfer window under Ruben Amorim at Manchester United is in the rearview mirror but it was nowhere near the massive rebuild needed.
That is understandable since January is hardly the time to make earth-shattering moves unless the club is funded by a whole state.
Still, with Patrick Dorgu’s arrival and Ayden Heaven being promoted as a first-team player, United have signed two players who, theoretically, suit Ruben Amorim’s structure perfectly.
That means that Man Utd’s lineup vs Leicester should signal a new era almost immediately, with the two new signings being handed their debut in addition to a wild card.
Man Utd lineup vs Leicester should have three debutants
An FA Cup fixture against a struggling team at home is the best possible match for Amorim to introduce new signings into the team, especially since the Premier League is borderline cursed this season for United.
Lisandro Martinez’s injury means the Man Utd manager might not even have a choice in increasing Heaven’s role from what was envisioned initially.
Dorgu’s introduction into the first XI is a no-brainer since United have been playing all this time without a natural left wing-back and the Dane comes match fit after playing regularly for Lecce.
- READ: Confirmed Manchester United transfer deals for January 2025, ins, outs, loan moves, deadline date
In addition, the third debutant should be Chido Obi, another Dane who has scored freely in the youth setup to keep up his marksman reputation.
His form has coincided with both Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee losing their shooting boots so a few minutes here against Leicester to start drip-feeding Chido Obi to the team would be ideal.
More rotation beyond these three is unlikely since United play once a week in February after avoiding the Europa League playoffs and getting eliminated from the Carabao Cup.
Ruben Amorim’s new era taking shape
With the introduction of Dorgu, and potentially Heaven into the team, the physicality and intensity level of the squad goes up immediately.
Heaven has been marked as a “generational” talent while Dorgu would have been the subject of a bidding war in the summer so United have stolen a march.
Amorim’s plea to his players to suffer and run like “mad dogs” is personified in these two players, particularly Dorgu, whose mentality reminds of Scott McTominay.
More than the incoming players, the departure of the likes of Tyrell Malacia, Antony, Marcus Rashford, and more indicate that Erik ten Hag’s squad is being rebuilt into the new manager’s image.
The new era is taking shape under Ruben Amorim, and the game against Leicester will be the first look at it.
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